THE FIRST SHABBAT

  

 Tonight, we will be in a different world. Tonight, as we bless the Shabbat, we will not be the same. It will be a family gathered together, but not for good cause. Not to celebrate a Chag, not to attend a graduation or important, joyous event. No, we were there to share in the grief, the endless grief, forever to be felt, sharp and painful. We were there to bury a 13 year old boy, to be at his levaya and kever (funeral ceremony and burial) a trip we  should have not had to take - ever, for anyone. And yet there we were and here we will be tonight.

It will be a bittersweet Shabbat meal, filled with the noise of a family, filled with silent tears of siblings missing their youngest brother. It will be the silent tears of parents grievously wounded by the loss of a beloved child; a wound forever sharp, forever painful. There will also be laughter as we reminisce with Yitzy stories. The special gifts he had, his warmth, his love, his faith, the friendship he had with others, from children to contemporaries to adults. Everyone loved Yitzy for there was nothing not to love - except perhaps for his passionate love of chocolate and candy. 

Needless to say, Gerry and I are distraught, looking for Yitzy, for his grin, for his hugs, given at a run, off to myriad activities, as involved in birdwatching as he was in sports, especially baseball, a super athlete and a brilliant student who still did not love homework - but did it anyway, even if in the last four minutes before running off to school. His oh so valiant efforts to return to school, giving us hope that a return to health and life would be forthcoming. Now - a huge gap in the world will forever be there for us.

The outpouring of love has been overwhelming. Yitzy's last wish was for a Torah to be written and thus we are so doing. We are raising money for it, and Yitzy told us to accept all contributions from a penny to a billion. The more who contribute the better, for taking part, being part, of the writing of a Torah from start to finish, being there or zooming on its beautiful entry into its new home - one of the biggest mitsvahs, good deed, that anyone can do.

We invite all who can, participate and feel the warmth of the grin of Yitzy as he watches from Above. Feel the warmth within that one has upon performing, partaking, in a righteous deed. The link is:https://www.charidy.com/yitzystorah

Perhaps if enough of us remaining on this tainted, confused, imperfect world realize what is of true value and what is nonsense, perhaps, maybe, just maybe there can indeed be a true striving for peace and the bloodshed halted. All those in captivity to return whole, sane, to their families. All the misguided to finally absorb the truth and turn away from those who promulgate the hate, that gory, barbaric emotion which only adds more violence and destruction to an already overburdened world.

Name after name of brave soldiers, gone before their time to join a sacred circle of heroes who gave their lives for Kiddush Hashem. But why, why must we continue to carry this hateful burden upon our weary shoulders? Why and where is it written that to be a Jew means, forever, to suffer, always be uncertain about the present and the future, whether once again toxic antisemitism will rise to top of the reeking waste pile, again, to wreak havoc, death, all the evils of the world directed upon the Jews. 

Why is that evil one of the most guaranteed phenomena of life itself - a least for the Jews. Why must the sad tones of Rachel weeping for her children, mourning, awaiting their return, always be heard in the background, growing and receding, but always there. When will Rachel ever be comforted again, to see the return of her children to their undisputed homeland?  To live in peace, with G-d, with all peoples of the world and truly be a light unto nations as we live a good and godly life. When?

And once again, and for always, a heartfelt thank you from Gerry and I, from Yitzy's immediate family, for being with us, for praying for him, for remembering him and for helping us to fulfill his last wish.    https://www.charidy.com/yitzystorah

I had to add this in, a response to the death of Yitzy, one of his baseball coaches.

Shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of one of my former Squirrel Hill players Yitzy Sutofsky. He was an awesome kid and tremendous ball player who packed quite a punch in a small package. My heart aches for his family, friends and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.